Seventeen days until we don’t have to worry about snow for another eight months.

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Fran Reilly, who died Wednesday, was never at a loss for words:

Jan. 29, 2012.

Q: Is there anyone you like in the Republican primary? Why?

A: I’ve described the Republican primary race thus far as a circular firing squad. I believe they’ll all be deemed unelectable by the Republican establishment.

My dream scenario is that, come April, a gaggle of prominent Republicans will descend on Trenton and convince Chris Christie that he must get in the race.

Obama vs. Christie — now that would be some campaign!

I like Christie because he can clearly articulate classic Republican positions with a down-to-earth approach, plus he’s fearless. I believe he could neutralize the president’s insistence on class warfare as a campaign strategy, which I believe will have long term detrimental effects on our country.

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A question came up at city council Tuesday night about the availability of the track at Jim Hursey Stadium to the public.

It is open to the public as soon as the maintenance workers get there in the morning.

But it won’t be in time for 6 a.m. walkers who want to walk before they go to work.

Bob Thompson checked that out for us.

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“BEN/Jack,

“I think it would be a fitting tribute to ‘Reds’ that your loyal listeners go to Utube and listen to ‘I Love the Pizza’ by Philly Cuzz so they can hear it in the Parlor in the Sky as a tribute.

“I talked to my friend Carl Johnson a couple of weeks ago, but don’t hold that against me!’’

— Larry Mathis,

Philly and NW

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Reginald “Reds’’ Scott was a beloved pizza man in Bridgeton.

He made a good pizza and he loved the Lord, and you ask for more than that.

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Which Carl Johnson?

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Perhaps Sunset Lake can be saved, after all.

Carl Fogg got up at the Land Dimensions presentation on Bridgeton City Park Tuesday night and said how important it was for Sunset Lake to be included.

We almost got up and hugged him.

People had given up on it as far as deepening it so it wouldn’t be so bacteria prone.

Lo and behold, there is a plan in the works where the water can be prevented from going bad.

And guess who is involved in the plan?

Bill Waterman, the busiest man in the entire Bridgeton school system.

Now, you would think Councilman Bill Spence would have told us about that because it is such a good thing.

Or Blake Maloney would have tipped us off because he is Mr. Ecology in Upper Deerfield, and was the first man to ask the DEP to deepen the lake at a cost of $2,000,000.

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By the way, the reason Mayor Albert Kelly signed off on the raises for himself and city council was because it doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2015, and the voters will have a chance to speak in the meantime.

Boy, does that sound ominous.

Kelly still has to pick his slate for the November election.

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Kelly will not accept the $3,000 raise himself, if re-elected.

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We want to make a correction in the Reginald “Reds’’ Scott story.

His wife died on Oct. 28 of last year, not in November.

We very much regret that error.

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We’re not sure what is going on with Bridgeton Business Administrator Dale Goodreau and FEMA.

But we know it has something to do with the Raceway and money and FEMA.

And constant phone calls to FEMA.

And it sure isn’t about Goodreau owing FEMA money, although he hasn’t gotten a raise since he came here.

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Bridgeton Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Riley was not only at the presentation by Land Dimensions, but also asked questions at the end, as did Sam Feinstein, Warren Robinson, Goldie Wulderk and Jeff Fogg.

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Robindon said so much as don;t mess with Veterans Park in the plans and, about the ideas he called good, “Show me the money.’’